Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-08-11
0DaAY

GOoAY
Read by Miss Hattie Dedrick before tn,
Thomas county Normal, August 5th
1887.
DISADVANTAGES OF TEACHING IN west
ERN SCHOOLS, AND THE RRMKDIEs.
Ihave never taught in any but western
schools. therefore I know something
about their disadvantages.
l think about the greatest one with
which We have to contend is the lack OF
material with which to work.
Who can expect teacher 10 60 into q
bare sod school house. with, perhaps, NO
floor, walls upholstered, no blackboard,
no maps, no charts, no globes, no appar-
atus of any kind. with which to work.
and do the work that is done in schools
further east?
do not know that so much is expect
ee under these circumstances, but l do
know that great deal more is expected
of teachers than can be accomplished in
this western country.
Another disadvantage is the low wages
that is paid for our services. People
want us to attend all the teachers insti-
tutes, conventions. &c. and to buy
books, papers and periodicals with which
to keep ourselves thoroughly posted. and
expect us to do all this with salary of.
perhaps, twenty dollars. after having
paid board at two and One-half dollars
per week. Is there either reason or JUS
tice in this?
And still another great disadvantage is
the want of uniformity of text books. 1t
is not so hard to get the people of coun-
ty to adopt this as to get them to buy the
books. They do not see. as the teacher
does. that they will be repaid many times
by the further advancement of their
children.
Another difficulty with which we have
to labor is the fact that in our rural
schools majority of the pupils are so
much further advanced in some particu-
lar branch than in the others, which
makes it very difficult to grade school
properly.
Another thing of importance in our
country schools is the habit school boards
have of changing teachers every term.
What encouragement is it for teach
er to work hard and build up school in
good condition, and just get things in
nice running order, and then perhaps,
some inefficient teacher. who will teach
for little less, will step in and tear down
all that you have accomplished.
There is still another thing, which is,
perhaps. of minor importance. 1t is this:
People have come here from all parts of
the United States, we might say. They
are not accustomed to the ways of the
West. They have few, if any, ideas in
common. Therefore, great deal of
difference of opinion might arise with
reference to school methods and man.
agement \
Now we will see what can be done to
remedy these difficulties and thus tighten
the burdens of the teachers?
How shall we get school apparatus?
First, l would say. labor long and ear
nestly. if need be, with your district
board.
Lay the case before them in all its diff
ferent phases. EndeavOr to show them
that you can fully repay the outlay by
the advantage it will give you of impart-
ing knowledge.
Show them that they will be the gain
ers, not the losers, in the end, and if
they have the interest of the school at
heart, they will not refuse.
If they should. don't be discouraged.
for there is another way.
If you have school Of advanced schol-
ars, you can with comparatively little
trouble. get up two or three entertain
ments during the term, charge small
sum admittance fee, which the patrons
will willingly give, and in this way you
can purchase a great many things that
will help you in your work.
Now as to the wages. Time will rem
edy this in great measure.
You will find as the country grows
older, and there is more money coming
in, higher wages will be paid. But with
higher wages will come a demand for
better teachers, so it will profit us to try
to raise our standard as teachers if we
wish to command better wages.
With regard to uniformity of text
books, there are different ways of rene
lying this.
Some will succeed by reasoning with
he parents and thus induce them to get
he required books.
Others have refused to teach the |
school unless the law is complied with, |